Mingo 44 Field Day! Free Printables!

So...my birthday party this year was an old school Field Day like when you were in elementary or middle school.  I reserved a park for the whopping permit fee of $20, bought some balls and whatnot, served hotdogs and grilled veggies with cupcakes, sunchips, etc. and GOT.IT.IN!

It was truly a blast.  Cheapest party I've ever thrown.  EVER!

I made the banner with cut out paper using this awesome blog post:   Free Printable – WHOLE Alphabet Banner!!  I used clothes pins ($1) from the dollar store to put them on the Jute Twine.

Since we were outside playing I wanted to make sure I had lots of water and I did some personalized water bottle labels using the same paper and my printer at home.  I bought the water at the dollar store (6 for $1), removed the labels and glued on my labels.  I tried finding a free label template online but folks were all about making money off it so yeah...I simply measured the circumference of the bottle and found I'd need an 8.5 inch long by 1.75 inch tall piece of paper per bottle.  Um...a regular sheet of paper is 8.5 inches long so yeah...EASY!!!!!!!!!!!  I centered 5 "logos" (made them in word) per page using 3 cell chart, blanking out the lines around all the cells except the center one and then made those lines thicker.  Personally...I think they look elegant.  GO ME!  You can download it here FOR FREE if you'd like to personalize it for your own something or the other.  Download Mingo44 WATER

Next up was something to decorate the gluten-free cupcakes I made.  Let's talk about the cupcakes first.

Cupcakes all over the world ain't cheap these days.  Ask for gluten-free and hell...you walking out of there with a box of cupcakes hitting you up for car insurance payment kinda cash.  Last weekend I made a friend a cake using this: King Arthur Flour Chocolate Cake Mix, Gluten Free (Pack of 3) and this:  Pamela's Products Dark Chocolate Frosting Mix, (Pack of 6).  

It was delicious.  

Seriously.  So yeah...I made cupcakes out of it and yeah...they were delicious too.  GO ME!  I put them on my AWESOME cupcake holder (I've since forgotten where I bought it but did so because when I saw it I was totally thinking it wasn't an icky cheesy looking one like I always see) and then...made paper lollipops using Word shapes (circle) and different fill colors and patterns.  I hot glued them to these (I found mine on clearance at Michael's for .99 cent a pack both circles and flowers): Little Yellow Bicycle - Naturals Collection - Burlap Shapes - Flowers  and then hot glued popsicle sticks on the back.  

Here is my template for the paper lollipops and you can personalize it your way for your use:   Download MINGO FLAGS

Cute huh?

The rest of the stuff I used was stuff I already had down in the basement.  I've collected some nice things over the years by simply keeping an eye out for things.  The best time to get good deals on stuff is when you don't need it.  LOL!  So yeah...I see something nice on a random Tuesday in March and buy it and store it down in the basement until I'm ready to use it.  GO ME!  

The best thing I've ever purchased has got to be the 54 x 108-Inch White Tablecloth $3.50 each.  I use them so much and, at only $3.50...you don't worry if something is spilled on them like red wine.  Oh...and my silverware I bought in bulk, Stainless Dinner Fork - 24 / BX - $4.68.  I started out with about 48 each of them at those prices and bought forks, spoons and knives.  You're totally not mad if someone accidentally tosses one in the trash at those prices.  I keep them in ziploc bags between parties and put them in a buffet silverware caddy for parties.  I've had it forever and forgot where I found it.  Works perfectly.

Since we were at a park...I used paper plates because paper plates are for parks and barbecues.  And that's all Imma say about that. Humph.  LOL!  Bought the paper plates at the dollar store too.

I did buy dodge balls and a flag football set but I can use them again.  If you're in the area and want to throw a field day party...you're welcome to borrow them because they will simply be in the ball bag in the basement.  LOL!

For the three legged races I used an old sheet cut up in strips.  Worked perfectly and completely throw-way-able.

Food was easy.  Gluten-free all beef hotdogs, grilled veggies and corn on the cob.  I put the corn on wooden skewers so folks didn't have to use their hands while outside.  I had a gallon of hand sanitizer on hand to disinfect before eating.  LOL!

Water and gatorade were the drink choices (G-Baby brought some drink packs for the kiddies) as we couldn't bring alcohol to the park.  I was going to make some awesome adult beverages to put into these Ball Jar Heritage Collection Pint Jars with Lids and Bands, Set of 6 :

Yall know I'm anti-drinking-out-of-mason-jars because I always dribble on myself so I drilled a hole in the top of the lid and then put Nickel-Plated Brass Eyelets - 3/8" - 8 Ct. in the hole.  I didn't put the back of the eyelet on because I did the hole exact and it was a really nice and snug fit.  Then...a straw just pops in nicely!  WHEEEEEEEEEEE!  Well...I'd already made 6 when I found out I couldn't bring alcohol so I didn't make anymore.  LOL!

We had fun.  It's always cool to do something completely different and well...we get together all the time for drinks and or drinks and dinner so it's fun to switch it up to something we never get to do.  

Before we left the park yesterday someone asked what we're doing next year.  

SIP: *HARD.STARE*

LOL!